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Across the Fence:  I am so thrilled!  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:34:07 AM
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Ladies please forgive me! I am so excited. We just paid off almost $3,000 in late December, and now, due to Tuition Reimbursement from the college I am able to pay off another $2500 in high interest debt.
We are still financially a mess and don't really have any savings, but I am hoping by this summer that will be another story!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1874 Posts
Linda
Kansas
1874 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:55:07 AM
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Thanks Linda! It has been a long haul for us to get on our feet and we have had some major setbacks. Most paychecks we only have $20-$60 left over after our budgeted bills. It gets old after a while not having any safety net and no resources for emergencies. Now that we are getting these large bills taken care of we can put a little aside and continue to pay down on debt. In the next 2.5 years we plan on having property and a house. I can harly wait!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:57:47 AM
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isn't is such a wonderful feeling????
unless you have been in the situation, you really cannot comprehend the joy!
i'm dancing here for ya, alee!!!!! i paid my last payment on my old school loan the other day-nobody but me was happy!!!!!
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 1:53:18 PM
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good job alee. it is a fine feeling for sure. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 2:26:57 PM
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Doesn't that feel so good? I am so happy for you! We are going to be paying off my hubby's Harley in a few weeks. I will be so glad to get that payment out of the way. It just feels so good to not have debt. Keep it up Ally. You will get there. We've been married 32 years and still don't have it all together. Maybe one day.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 3:40:07 PM
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That's awesome Alee!!!!
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 4:26:47 PM
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So happy for you Alee! Isn't it freeing getting out of debt.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
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craftingram
True Blue Farmgirl
526 Posts
Karin
Nashville
In
USA
526 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 06:57:41 AM
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Congratulation Alee! It's a wonderful feeling paying off debt. It's hard work and I know you get tired of having to be so careful, but it's SO worth it in the end.
Karin |
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nitere
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Amy
Hickory
NC
USA
482 Posts |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 8:51:53 PM
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way to go! So happy for you.
marianne |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 11:14:49 PM
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You GO girl! You GO!! Congratulations, Alee! I'm SO happy for you! Hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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classygram
True Blue Farmgirl
1812 Posts
Brenda
Pleasant Hill
Mo.
USA
1812 Posts |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 11:25:23 PM
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Oh Alee what a relief and lightness you must have in your heart. It's it just wonderful to not be so concerned about bills. Congrats! Hugs, Brenda
http:///www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Seek reasons to Love..In every sigment of everyday-look for something that brings forth within you a feeling of Love-Abraham Hicks |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 05:57:56 AM
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Thank you so much ladies! I am looking forward to getting more of our responsibilities taken care of after this semester. In about 3 months my husband will be done paying off all of his student loans. That is going to be amazing. 2011 is going to be a good year for getting things done!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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woolgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
901 Posts
Elizabeth
Great Lakes
IL
USA
901 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 06:04:53 AM
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That's great Alee! What has been the secret to your success?
Farmgirl #1947 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 09:48:39 AM
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Elizabeth-
Well, we budget very very hard and really don't purchase much of anything. We do have a bit of an expenditure because of having our horse, but she is worth so much to me. She is my destress mechanism.
So because I work part-time I bring in about $600 every two weeks, and my husband brings in about $850 but we only see $600 or so because the difference gets sent to his student loans. Unfortunatly this is a garnishment which I DON'T recommend at all, but the upside is that it forces the payment and we just have to adapt.
So effectively we have $2400 a month to pay our bills.
I pay then in priority of what we can and can not do without should there be a problem. We also do not do the cell phone thing as that is a huge expense and really, no one needs to get a hold of me that bad! However, during the winter months we do use the Verizon pay as you go plan that you can buy at Wal-mart. For $15 a month I have a cell phone should I need it.
Expenses Balance
$2400
Rent= 700 $1700
Food= $300 1400 (We only buy fresh food and very cheap meat. We make $300 work for 3 people for 3 meals a day)
Gasoline= 200 1200
Horse 275 925
Preschool 600 325
Electricity 75-100 225
Natural Gas 20-70 155
Cable/phone 125 30
So as you can see we don't eat out often if ever. Any cleaning supplies (we usually make our own with baking soda and vinegar etc) are included in the grocery money. Also any spur of the moment needs such as replacement food storage containers or underwear. I am also going to school and while I know taking student loans inceases my debts, I couldn't afford to do it other wise, so I do take out student loans to the tune of about $20K a year and I get the residual amount of about 9k and about 4.5k from my work as tuition reimbursement.
Out of my extra money I have some expenses too-
Expenses Balance
13500
Books 1200 12300 (seriously! They are so expensive)
Farrier 400 11900
Car Maint. 1000 10900
Insurance 900 10000
etc....
So basically at the beginning and end of ever semester we have a bit of a flush of money that we get everything caught up on and/or prepaid (insurance and such.) Sometimes our electric and gas bills are pretty neglibile (summer) which gives a bit more leeway, but then that just means another bill gets paid. We have some pretty sizeable "bad debt" from several reasons and we are working on trying to get that taken care of.
I know taking more loans out isn't always the best thing to do, but what we are trying to do is shift our debt load from the bad high interest debt to my 0 or low interest student loans. We are hoping that with my degree (accounting) we will be able to continue to live very frugally and just pay very strongly against my student loans once I graduate.
We also are very fortunate that my husband worked for a business that paid in stock and we will see a return on that investment in about 2.5 years. We should be able to buy a house outright and maybe have only small mortgage on land. If I can put what we pay in rent into debt payment in addition to what we now pay in preschool to our debt (by that time Nora will be in Public Schools) then according to my *rough* estimations we should have my student loans paid off in 6 years at our current income rate which I of course hope will be increased by my degree!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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wild daisy
True Blue Farmgirl
503 Posts
Madelynne
Billings
Montana
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 5:16:12 PM
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Hi Alee that is wonderful news. I can only see a bright future for you and your family. I know that going to school and working is draining but when it is all over just think of the possibilities.
Again way to go!!!
Madelynne
www.johnandmadelynne.blogspot.com |
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staci860
True Blue Farmgirl
838 Posts
Staci
Newville
PA
USA
838 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 05:27:26 AM
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WAY TO GO, ALEE!!! Paying off debt is freedom!
 
Blessings, staci FG# 973
:o )
Joshua 24:15 - ...choose this day whom you will serve,...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
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Edited by - staci860 on Feb 07 2011 05:27:45 AM |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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bboopster
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Betty Jo
West Bend
Wisconsin
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 12:51:52 PM
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Alee! WAY To Go!!! I am in the process of doing the same thing for the 2nd time in my life. Can not believe I got back into trouble. Spend too much on my children and grandchildren. I have to learn that they are adults and need to support themselves and their families. I am trying to open a business and have had to shave off expenses at home so I can prove to the bank I am worth the risk. I have taken a overnight sleep position at work losing $2.00 an hour but I get to keep my health insurance and sleep so I can work at the business during the day. I am hoping in the long run this will pan out for us too. I do not need to make a million but a $1000 a month would be good. Please send me you spreadsheet I would love to plug in my numbers. Congratulations!!!
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
Nana to 4 with 1 on the way.
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 12:53:39 PM
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Way to go Alee!
It is a good thing to be out of debt.
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
2882 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
2882 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 4:17:56 PM
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| Good for you Alee. Nice that you have a written budget and a long term plan. & there is nothing better than seeing that number go down, down, down! |
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Across the Fence: I am so thrilled! |
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I am so thrilled!
